Dear L&S LSAs,

As the L&S Associate Dean for Teaching & Learning Administration, I’m asking for a moment of your time at the top of the semester to share something close to my heart – a renewed commitment to teaching excellence.

Here are a few examples of how we are taking steps in this direction:

Collaboration: The recently formed L&S Teaching & Learning Advisory Council, composed of faculty, staff, and graduate students, provides administration with guidance, expertise, and opportunities for collaboration.
Stories: We are prioritizing efforts to share stories that celebrate the many dimensions of teaching excellence. You can find examples in content from the L&S Instructional Design Collaborative, and you will see us highlight stories from experienced L&S graduate student teachers throughout these newsletters.
Recognition: We continue to support a robust award program for exceptional TAs, and are currently accepting nominations for L&S Teaching Mentors.

I’m eager to share more as we continue to “define” teaching excellence in L&S. For now, I simply want to express my appreciation for contributing to the teaching mission of L&S and inspiring our students to learn.

Thank you!

Shirin Malekpour

Associate Dean for Teaching & Learning Administration

Q: What is "Teaching Excellence?"

A: "Teaching excellence eludes a simple definition even though we see it each day in classrooms throughout our campus. To me, pursuing “excellence” is about recognizing our strengths as a College, working together to continually grow as educators, and ensuring that teaching is seen and appreciated."

Prepare to Teach

All the info you need for a strong Spring semester, with a handy checklist to guide you. Plus a roundup of helpful events and guides! Get started.

This resource is provided by the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Mentoring.

Apply for the L&S Peer Observation Program

Are you in your last year of teaching and preparing for your faculty interviews and teaching demos?
Are you a seasoned instructor looking for someone outside of your department who can tell you how you are doing in the classroom?

Partner with another L&S graduate student teacher for one observation. You will also receive personalized feedback from an experienced observer.

Apply by Jan 27 for the Spring 2025 cohort.

Podcast: Navigating the Hidden Curriculum

Do your students know the hidden curriculum?

Lyn Macgregor and her colleagues in Sociology created a resource to help instructors uncover the hidden curriculum for students. The L&S Exchange Podcast discusses these innovative modular slide decks that feature local examples and reflection questions, all designed to help students navigate unspoken academic norms and expectations.

Learn more and explore the slides!

Teaching Mentor Nominations Due Feb 13

L&S is looking for passionate graduate student teachers from a wide range of disciplines and backgrounds to serve as instructors at the annual Fall TA Training. Those selected to be Teaching Mentors have not only a proven track record of excellence as educators, but also a strong desire to share their experience and mentor new TAs. LSAs and other experienced teachers can be a great fit for this program. Nominations are due Feb 13.

L&S Teaching Mentors

Paid Parental Leave

Graduate Assistants (including LSAa) are eligible for paid parental leave under a new policy. Learn more from Human Resources.

Teaching Insight in your Inbox

Enhance your teaching effectiveness by subscribing to the monthly L&S Instructional Design Collaborative newsletter. Each edition delivers practical, evidence-based teaching strategies and shares compelling stories from instructors across the College.

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Learning Forward is brought to you by the L&S TA Training & Support Team.

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